GUEST: My mother bought this in 1931 from the great-grandson of the original owner.
APPRAISER: Who was...
GUEST: Ephraim and Mary Perkins.
APPRAISER: Okay.
GUEST: It was made for their household furnishings when they were married in 1771.
APPRAISER: And they were married in what town? Was it Lisbon?
GUEST: Lisbon, Connecticut.
APPRAISER: Well, it makes sense it was in Lisbon because this is a Connecticut piece probably made right in that area. These secretary bookcases or desks and bookcases organized papers. They locked in, with a key, important documents. Jewelry, money could have been kept there over the years. So it was a very important piece of furniture in the house. Why is it made in Connecticut? Well, we know it's made of cherry wood, the primary wood, which is a local wood from Connecticut and if we look at some of the design elements here, this fan... distinctive... the fact that it's at the lower part of the prospect section and not the top-- typical of Connecticut. If we look at this cyma shape here, the cabinetmakers echo that same shape here on the shelves.
GUEST: I've never noticed that.
APPRAISER: Beautiful cyma curve. And then the pilasters are typical, again. You see these in Connecticut. What I love about your desk is the way it's survived and it speaks to us in just a very clear voice.
GUEST: It has a lot of personality.
APPRAISER: It does. I mean, if we look at this front and look at these handles... I think these are Connecticut-made brass handles, not imported ones from England. This is also a great Connecticut chair-- again, probably made there along the coast-- with these little flutes, which are done to simulate high-style Boston Flemish or scroll feet. These two little lines on each side. This is cherry wood, it's Connecticut, it has its original finish, beautiful original finish. Value-wise, the chair is probably worth in the area of about $5,000, maybe $6,000.
GUEST: Is that so?
APPRAISER: I would evaluate the secretary at about $70,000 to $90,000.
GUEST: Really? Isn't that wonderful?
